Patisserie Valerie finance chief arrested and bailed as firm teeters on brink

The finance chief of bakery firm Patisserie Valerie was arrested and bailed, the firm's owners said today.

Chris Marsh, who was suspended from his role earlier this week, was arrested by police last night and released on bail.

Yesterday the firm's owner announced the business was in need of an emergency cash injection and could go bust.

The business, which has 206 cafes in Britain and 2,500 staff, also owns brands Druckers, Philpotts, Baker & Spice and the Flour Power City Bakery.

Landlords today told the Evening Standard they were on tenterhooks about whether the business would survive and if scores of their properties would become empty

The total portfolio of Patisserie Valerie stretches 290,000 square feet across 156 locations, with 31 being found in the capital according to Radius Data Exchange.

The chain’s owner Patisserie Holdings said: “Further updates will be released in due course as appropriate.”